Board ponders future of old school
CONNELLSVILLE – The school district is considering its options regarding an outdated facility now that is no longer being used by a county agency. Last week, the Connellsville Area School Board voted to have an appraisal conducted at the former West Leisenring School to determine its value and condition.
According to district superintendent Jerry Browell, the Intermediate Unit 1 has provided educational services at the district-owned building along Bute Road in Dunbar Township for nearly 35 years.
“(The intermediate unit) recently gave up the lease and now we’re going to have to decide what to do with it,” said Browell.
Because of its location, Browell speculates the board will move to sell the building.
The intermediate unit, meanwhile, has moved its base of operation to the Colonial School in the Brownsville School District.
In other business, the board also:
– Agreed to advertise for bids for winter sports supplies and equipment.
– Approved the purchase of 60 chairs for Zachariah Connell Elementary School at an approximate cost of $2,484 and install a roof-mounted air conditioner for the school’s teachers’ dining room at an approximate cost of $2,000.
– Hired Rhonda Smalley as special population coordinator clerk and Gaye Hair, Thomas Niswonger and Darneice Stoots as monitor/aides for the North Fayette Vocational-Technical School.
– Approved a $2,727 salary increase for North Fayette Vocational Technical School director Kenneth Parker, a $300 increase for Browell, who serves as chief school administrator and a 70-cent and 85-cent per hour increase for custodians and secretaries, respectively. Parker will now receive an annual salary of $63,437 while Browell will receive $2,800 annually as chief school administrator.
– Recalled social studies teacher Dennis Geary who was previously furloughed by the district.
– Deleted Aaron Dull, Jane Johnston, Kevin Logan, Gary Nolan, Jane Orndorff, Rhonda Skelly and Ben Wiggins from the Connellsville School Police and added Kelly Clark, Steven Jones, Dorothy Kemp, Greg Kuzyck, Charles Mills, Richard Murray, Marc Soisson, Cynthia Swallop, Jack Taylor and David Weimer to the school force.
– Approved Michele Gillott and Rebecca Broadwater as long-term substitutes for the first semester of the 2002-03 school year.
nHired Suzette Ponzetti as a personal student aide.